Shloka 14

Omens in the Kuru Host and Droṇa’s Recognition of Arjuna (क्लीबवेषधारी पार्थ-परिज्ञानम्)

Devanagari script

एवमुक्तस्तु सुश्रोण्या तया सख्या परंतप: । जगाम राजपुत्रस्य सकाशममितौजस:,सुन्दर कटिप्रदेशवाली सखी उत्तराके ऐसा कहनेपर शत्रुओंको संताप देनेवाले अर्जुन अमितपराक्रमी राजकुमार उत्तरके समीप गये। मद टपकानेवाले गजराजकी भाँति शीघ्रतापूर्वक आते हुए अर्जुनके पीछे-पीछे विशाल नेत्रोंवाली उत्तरा भी आयी; ठीक उसी तरह, जैसे हथिनी हाथीके पीछे-पीछे जाती है

Transliteration

evam uktas tu suśroṇyā tayā sakhyā parantapaḥ | jagāma rājaputrasya sakāśam amitaujasaḥ ||

Translation

വൈശമ്പായനൻ പറഞ്ഞു—സുന്ദരകടി പ്രദേശമുള്ള ആ സഖി ഇങ്ങനെ പറഞ്ഞപ്പോൾ, ശത്രുസന്താപകനായ അമിതപരാക്രമിയായ അർജുനൻ രാജകുമാരൻ ഉത്തരന്റെ സന്നിധിയിലേക്കു പോയി.

Word by Word

एवम्thus

उक्तःhaving been spoken to / addressed

तुbut/indeed

सुश्रोण्याby the fair-hipped (lady)

तयाby her

सख्याby the friend

परंतपःthe scorcher of foes (Arjuna)

जगामwent

राजपुत्रस्यof the prince

सकाशम्to the presence/near

अमितौजसःof immeasurable vigor (Arjuna)

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

Vaiśampāyana

Arjuna

Uttara (prince)

a female companion/friend (sakhī; contextually associated with Uttarā in the surrounding narration)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

War Context

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights disciplined responsiveness: a hero acts promptly and appropriately when addressed, moving toward the required encounter without vanity or hesitation—an ethical model of duty-guided conduct.

What is happening in the narrative?

After being spoken to by a female companion, Arjuna proceeds to the presence of Prince Uttara, setting up the next exchange and action within the Virāṭa court episode.